Bottle crate



March ll, 1952 H, H, GOLDSTElN 2,588,824

BOTTLE CRATE Filed Oct. 21, 194'7 INVENToR. HARRY ea. Gomsnzm 50 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1952 BOTTLE CRATE Harry H. Goldstein North Arlington, Va.; Rose Hirschfeld Goldstein, admin-istratrix C. T. A., of said Harry H. Goldstein, deceased Application October 21, 1947, Serial No; 781,145

1 Claim.

This invention relates ingeneral to improvements in the construction of portable boxes or cases or" the type which are provided with an in-A provements in the construction and arrangement of the interior partition structure within such a box or case which provides for relatively greater strength and durability i-n the partition structure and in the completed box, and otherwise simplifies and reduces to a minimum the costo manufacture and repair of the boxes or cases.

In the general construction of bottle carrying cases or boxes of this character, the interior partition structure comprises a honeycomb arrangement provided by longitudinal boards or strips extending at right angles in intersecting relation to transverse Iboards and withV the transverse boards provided with slots receiving the intersecting portions of the longitudinal boards. 'The portions or" the transverse boards between such slots are necessarily relatively weak and fragile and therefore are subject to breakage in a rather short period of usage of the box compared to the associated imperiorate longitudinal boards which are not slotted and therefore have no materially weakened portions.

Due to the frequent insertion and removal of bottles from the cases i-n the usage thereof, the upper portions of the partition boards or strips are subjected to the greatest wear and bending forces and consequently it is such upper portions which rst tend to fail and `break off. Naturally in any partition structure in which the upper portions of either the longitudinal or transverse board members are slotted or otherwise weakened to provide for the intersecting crossed relation of said boards, the areas between the slots in such upper portions of the slotted boards are so weak.- ened that splitting and breaking thereof occurs all too easily under the transverse bending forces transmitted thereto in the usage of the cases, as aforesaid.

A primary object of the invention, therefore,` is to provide an improved box construction of. the kind described in which `both the longitudinal and transverse boards are imperforate and un.- broken along the upper portions. thereof and therefore of maximum strength and durability in the areas subject to the greatest wear and bending forces in the usage of the box.Y InV addition, the arrangement is such that the longitudinal and transverse boards are securedk together 2 at their intersections by interlocked joints which prevent loosening or displacement of the partition structure in the completed box.

A further object of the invention is for the provision of a box or case of this character in which the interior partition structure is provided of high strength and durability by the luse of imperforate transverse boards which are not slotted or otherwise weakened and therefore are of maximum strength and durability in the complete partition and box structure. In this regard, the associated longitudinal boards of the partition structure are so provided that the upper portions thereof are also imperforate, and consequently, the entire partition structure is of maximum strength in the areas which are subject to the most severe conditions of handling and usage in the repeated insertion and withdrawal of bottles into and out of the cells deiined by the partition` Structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box having. such an interior partition structure in. which the longitudinal and transverse boards are secured in interlocked joints to prevent displacement or loosening of Said boards relative to each otherr and further, with the partition structure retained andy secured in grooves in the inner Walls oi. the end panels and/or side panels of the box` to prevent displacement of the partition structure within. the box.

An additional object of theA invention is to provide a box having such a partition structure which is retained in grooves on the inner walls of the.v box and: whichA is assembled in the box from the open top thereof, thereby providing for speed and facility in mass production manufactureoi" the boxes and ready access to the partition structure for repair or replacement of any of the longitudinal or transverse partition boards.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box and partition. structure of the kind aforesaid in. which the partition structure is secured within the box by metallic bands or strips extending over the end panels of the box and having their free ends arranged at the top of the box for quick and easy removal when access to the partition structure is necessary for repair purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle carrying case' or box having all the foregoing advantages and new features of construeu tion and which is readily adapted for mass production manufacture by existing machinery and Y equipment now in use. and at. minimum cost.

Further objects and advantages. of the invention, and other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts will be apparent as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved bottle carrying case or box construction in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig. l taken along line 2 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a. sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along line 3 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the box construction shown in Fig. l with parts of the partition structure represented in section to illustrate the interlocking joint arrangement of the intersecting transverse and longitudinal boards of the partition;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a transverse board oi the partition structure illustrating the imperforate design throughout the length thereof for maximum strength; and,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a longitudinal board of the partition structure in position for application to an associated transverse board in an interlocked joint connection therewith.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings, the invention is shown, for illustrative purposes only, as embodied in a typical box or case construction for shipping or transporting bottles, or the like. In the present example, the partition structure is shown as provided for carrying twelve bottles but it will be understood that the principles of the invention are equally applicable, in whole or in part, to the construction of any similar or related type of box for containing six, twenty-four, thirty-six, forty-eight, or any other desired number of bottles and with the partition structure suitably designed to accommodate any particular shape or size of the bottles or similar articles.

The body of the box is readily constructed in the same general size and outline of conventional types of such boxes in the form of side panels I attached to end panels 3 and suitably secured to a box base or bottom 5 provided by a series of panels having spaces therebetween to expedite cleaning of the boxes and the removal of refuse and foreign matter which may accumulate therein. For a similar purpose, one or both of the side panels I preferably is so provided as to denne an elongate space 2 adiacent the bottom 5 of the box as shown in Figs. l and 3.

The end panels 3 of the box are provided on their inner walls or faces with vertical grooves or mortises IB, Figs. 2 and 4, for receiving the ends of a series of spaced, parallel longitudinal boardsV I5 of the partition structure in vertical relation to the base 5 of the box. These grooves IG are open at the top of the box and preferably v extend downwardly only a portion of the height of said end panels 3 as necessary to accommodate the height of the longitudinal partition boards I5 so that the upper edges of said boards are substantially iiush with the upper edges of the end panels 3 of the box, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower ends of said grooves I0 may be so provided as to denne shoulders in abutting relation with the lower ends of said longitudinal partition boards I5 to support and retain the same in assembled relation in the box.

Spaced slots I5 are provided along the lower edge portion of the longitudinal partition boards I5 in a manner whereby a substantial upper portion thereof is continuous and imperforate and thereby of maximum strength and durability and not weakened in any material way. The number and spacing of the slots I6 is provided in accordance with the size and number of the compartments or cells in the partition structure for accommodating the predetermined number of bottles to be contained in the box, and any particular size and shape of such bottles or similar articles. In most instances, the bottles are of generally round cross-section and accordingly it is preferable to provide a series of arcuate de-` pressions I8 on opposite sides of the longitudinal board members I5 in the spaces between the slots IB. The arcuate depressions I8 correspond substantially to the contour of the generally round cross-section of the bottles to be contained in the box so as to fit and seat the bottles snugly and thereby prevent excessive shaking and jostling of the bottles and the contents thereof when transported in the box.

The side panels I of the box are provided similarly on the inner walls or faces thereof with vertical grooves 28 for receiving the ends of a series of spaced, parallel transverse partition boards 25 below and intersecting relation with the longitudinal boards l5 and in interlocked joints therewith, as presently to be described. These grooves 20 are open at the top edges of the side panels I of the box and extend downwardly on the inner faces of said side panels a predetermined distance to shoulders 2l which support the ends of said transverse partition boards in spaced vertical relation to the base or bottom 5 of the box, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The arrangement is such that the transverse boards 25 are supported in a deiinite spaced relation to the bottom 5 of the box by said shoulders 2 I, and the transverse boards in turn support the longitudinal boards at right angles thereto and with the upper edges of said longitudinal boards substantially flush with the end panels I of the box as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The transverse boards 25 are provided with a series of spaced pairs of grooves 26 on opposite sides thereof as best seen in Fig. 5. A pair of such grooves 26 are merely opposing mortises or vertical indents in the transverse boards 25 and do not form slots or other holes which in any way weaken said transverse boards. The transverse boards 25, accordingly, are continuous and imperforate throughout their lengths so that they are of maximum strength. The pairs of opposing grooves 25 define therebetween tenons which are designed to be snugly received in complementary slots I5 in the associated longitudinal partition boards i5 as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 to provide a series of interlocked joints at the junctions dening the various compartments and cells of the completed partition structure. The number and spacing of the pairs of opposing grooves 26 defining such tenons, as aforesaid, is provided in accordance with the size and number of bottles to be contained in the box. inasmuch as the bottles in most instances are of generally round cross-section, it is preferable to provide arcuate depressions 28 on opposite sides of the transverse board members 25 in the spaces between the pairs of opposing grooves 26 in the same general manner in which the similar arcuate depressions IS are provided on the longitudinal board members I5. Accordingly, the arcuate depressions I8 and 28 on the respective longitudinal and transverse board members dene complementary arcuate surfaces corresponding substantially to the contour of the generally round cross-section of the bottles to be contained in the box and thereby snugly t and rmly seat the bottles in position. Such arcuate depressions I8 and 28 may be omitted if desired in the event that the cells or compartments of the partition structure otherwise snugly embrace the bottles, or it is preferred to dispense with such arcuate depressions in providing a cheaper box construction.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that with the various parts of the box provided the manner` described, the partition structure is easily and quickly assembled within the box simply by sliding the ends of the transverse boards into the open vertical grooves 2@ in the side panels I of the box until the ends of said transverse boards rest upon the shoulders 2| at the bottoms of said grooves, substantially as shown in Fig. 3. The cooperating longitudinal boards I5 are then applied into intersecting, interconnected relation with sai-:i transverse boards 25 by sliding the ends thereof into the open vertical grooves it in the end panel members 3 as shown in Fig. 2, and with the spaced slots i6 therein receiving the associated tenons dened by the spaced pairs of opposing grooves 23 in the transverse board members 25. The slots It in said longitudinal boards i5 are so provided that the end walls of said slots bear upon the top edges of the transverse board members 25, with the upper edges of said longitudinal boards substantially ilush with the top edges of the end panels 3 substantially as shown in Fig. 2.

Accordingly, as best illustrated in Fig. 4, the assembled partition structure comprises a series of interlocked joints of adjoining portions of the longitudinal board members I5 in overlying intersecting relation to the transverse board members 25, with such joints formed by the aforesaid slots I5 in the longitudinal boards I5 receiving the tenons dened by the pairs of opposing grooves 28 in the transverse boards 25. The interlocked joints prevent displacement of the adjacent portions of the partition boards I5 and 25 so that even under the most severe rough handling and usage of the box, the individual cells or compartments of the partition structure are of the same uniform size and disposition as provided in the initial fabrication of the box, In addition, the completed partition structure is retained firmly and rigidly in assembled relation within the box by the free ends of the transverse boards 25 received in the vertical grooves 20 in the side panels I in cooperation with the free ends of the longitudinal boards I5 received in the vertical grooves I on the inner walls of the end panel members 3.

In this relation, the upper edges of the longitudinal boards i5 are nush with the top edges of the end panels 3, and said longitudinal boards otherwise overlie the transverse boards 25 and thereby retain said transverse boards 25 in assembled relation within the box. Accordingly, by securing the longitudinal boards in assembled position, the transverse boards are also secured and this is effected by metallic binding strips 30 which are fastened, as by nails or staples 3|, in overlapping relation to the ends of said longitudinal boards as shown in Fig. e. Preferably, the binding strips 3@ extend along the bottom 5 and sides I of the box to reinforce the same, and with the free ends of said strips nailed to the top edges o'f the'end panels 3 to retain the longitudinal boards I5 in assembled relation within the box, as aforesaid. Thus, when it is desired to repair or replace a damaged partition board, it is necessary to separate only the free ends of the binding strips 35 by withdrawing the nails 3|, whereupon the longitudinal partition boards I5 may be removed followed by removal of the transverse boards 25 in a reversal of the procedure for assembling said boards within the box. When a damaged board has been replaced and the partition assembled in a repetition of the foregoing described procedure, the free ends of the binding strips 30 are then easily and quickly replaced and secured by the nails 3| in their initial position retaining the ends of the longitudinal board members I5 in assembled relation within the box.

Frequently the side panelsl of the boxes have a tendency to warp and bulge outwardly as a result of exposure to the weather or washing oper ations. inasmuch as the transverse boards 25 are rugged, relatively thick imperforate members they are admirably suited for the application of one or more nails 35 for preventing such warping of the side panels I ofthe box without danger of splitting or breaking said transverse board mern bers 25. Accordingly, the body of the box is comparatively strong and durable as a result of the reinforcement provided both by the metallic binding strips 3i? and the nails 35 retaining the side panels 3 against warping.

it is to be appreciated that the transverse board 25 in the partition structure are continuous and imperforate throughout their lengths and that the longitudinal boards I5 are also continuous and imperforate along the upper portions thereof above the transverse board members as shown in Fig. 2, while the lower portions thereof between the slots I6 are braced by the grooves 26 in the transverse board members. As a result of the frequent insertion and removal of bottles from the cases in the usage thereof, the upper portions of the partiti-on members are subjected to the greatest wear and bending forces and ccn- 5 sequently it is such upper portions which tend to fail first. However, by the improved construction of the present invention, the transverse boards 25 are of maximum strength and durability throughout by virtue of the continuous, unbroken imperforate formation thereof while the upper portions of the longitudinal boards I5 which are subject to the most severe strain and constant wear, aforesaid, likewise are of maximum strength and durability by reason of the imperforate, unbroken continuous formation or" these boards along saidupper portions thereof.

In the assembled position of the slotted longi tudinal boards I5 over the transverse boards 25, the top edges of the former lie above the top edges of the latter, with the lower portions of the longitudinal boards I5 between the slots I5 jammed into the blind ends of the corresponding grooves 26 in the transverse boards. These lower portions of the longitudinal boards I5 between the slots I5 are therefore braced against transverse Ibending at points between the crossing transverse boards 25 whereby possibility of breakage of these lower portions of the longitudinal boards I5 is reduced to a minimum. The transverse and longitudinal boards are also rigidly secured together by the interlocking grooves and slots, and even if a section between the slots I6 in the longitudinal boards should crack or split under excessive force, such section will not fall out for the reason that the blind ends of the grooves 26 in the transverse boards 25 retain it in its normal proper position.

Highly desirable advantages reside in the box construction of the present invention in that it may be manufactured from the same materials and by the same machinery heretofore employed for making similar boxes such that no additional cost is involved and important savings are possible by reason of the greatly minimized costs for repair and replacement of parts of damaged boxes while otherwise eliminating the cost for a large reserve supply of boxes heretofore required to meet the high percentage of breakage in such boxes. x

While the invention has been described in detail with a specic example, such example is intended as an illustration only, since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, with all changes falling within the scope, meaning, and range of equivalency of the claim intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

A box comprising a base and opposing side and end panels secured to said base, said opposing panels having spaced vertical grooves on the inner walls thereof open at the top edges of said panels with the grooves in said panels defining shoulders spaced from the base of the box, a partition structure within said box comprising a series of transverse boards which are imperforate and unslotted throughout their lengths, said transverse boards having their ends received in the grooves in the side panels and supported on said shoulders therein in spaced vertical relation with their lower edges spaced from the base of the box and their upper edges spaced from the top of the box, said imperforate and unslotted transverse boards having spaced vertical grooved portions intermediate the ends thereof and arcuate depressions between said grooved portions, a series of longitudinal boards supported on said spaced imperforate and unslotted transverse boards in crossed relation thereto and also supported on the shoulders on said end panels with their lower edges spaced from the base of the box and their upper edges substantially flush with the top of the box, said longitudinal boards having imperforate upper portions and spaced slots in their lower portions and arcuate depressions between said spaced slots, said spaced slots in said lower portions of the longitudinal boards receiving said spaced grooved portions on the imperforate and unslotted transverse boards in a series of interlocked joints holding said boards in iixed relation to each other, said imperforate and unslotted upper portions of the longitudinal boards and said imperforate and unslotted transverse boards providing a partition in which the upper portions of all boards adjacent the top of the box are imperiorate and unslotted throughout their lengths and thereby of maximum strength and also reinforced by said series of interlocked joints so as to provide maximum resistance against breakage in the use of the box, and binding strips at the ends of said box extending over the base and side panels thereof with the free ends of said binding strips secured to the upper edges of said end panels in overlapping relation to said ends of the longitudinal boards for securing the partition structure within the box.

HARRY H. GOLDSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,120,283 Clarkson Dec. 8, 1914 1,133,076 Wildberg Mar. 23, 1915 1,234,152 Goodwillie July 24, 1917 2,323,491 Schneeberger July 6, 1943 2,334,198 Hutchings Nov. 16, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 38,305 Switzerland Dec. 5, 1906 

